Friday, June 30, 2017

Since we already posted a peach cobbler, I decided to do a peach crisp instead, but I wanted to do a really
crispy crisp, and not the same old crumble style.

I looked at dozens of recipes
online, and came across one from the critically acclaimed, “A Boat, a Whale, & a Walrus,” by Renee Erickson. I did change it up a bit, and tweaked the
procedure, but that’s where the inspiration is from.

I didn’t mention it in the video, but
make sure you put a pan underneath your cobbler as it bakes. I like the heat
getting underneath my dish, so I placed the pan on the rack below, but this
would probably be fine if you just placed the dish directly on the pan.

This technique should work with any,
and all, cobbler-approved fruits, and no matter what you use, it would make a
welcomed addition to anyone’s picnic or cookout. Of course, make sure you have
plenty of vanilla ice cream around, preferably homemade. So, the next time you’re in
possession of some perfectly ripe peaches, I really do hope you give this a try
soon. Enjoy!

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Well, at least I don’t have to type the ingredient amounts
for this could’ve-been-delicious, flat iron steak.I thought for sure maple syrup, coffee, and
bourbon would be great together, but it turns out they weren’t even good
together.

Okay, they were bad. It reminded me of some daily special, gone
really wrong, at one of those strip mall steakhouses. Luckily, we have several excellent marinades that will work
perfectly with this great steak, and I will list a few below.

Like I said in
the video, the real point was to share what a great cut of beef flat iron is
for the grill. It checks all the boxes, and requires virtually no trimming.
Plus, and very ironically, it’s especially good for absorbing marinades.

So, enjoy this with your favorite pre-grill meat soak, or
check out one of the following links. Regardless, I really hope you give flat
iron steaks a try soon.Enjoy!Here are some marinade recipes that would be perfect for
this:

Friday, June 23, 2017

If you’re from Greece, you’re probably pretty confused right
now, and wondering why I’m calling this gyros. There, pork and chicken are
used, in non-ground form, and as the meat turns slowly over a fire, the cooked,
caramelized surface is shaved off into thin slices.

It’s amazing stuff, but
believe it or not, I prefer this Americanized “mystery meat” approach, which
uses ground lamb and/or beef. The spices are similar, but the texture is totally
different, and for me, more interesting. I can eat fresh, identifiable meat
anytime, so when I’m in the mood for gyros, I want the stuff you can only get
from certain street vendors. Of course, since the meat is ground, you’re taking
their word for which specific animals made the ultimate sacrifice, which is why
this stuff became affectionately known as “mystery meat.”

This style is perfect for making ahead of time. Once it’s
chilled, and sliced, all you need to do is brown it in a pan, and find some
flatbread to roll it up in. Preferably, that would be homemade Lebanese
mountain bread, which I will attempt to show you in the near future. In the
meantime, your favorite pita will do, just as long as you don’t forget to make
some tzatziki. I really hope you give this a
try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 8 portions:

1 pound ground lamb

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion

4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tablespoon freshly minced rosemary

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 to 3 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste (you can cook a
small piece to test)

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons bread crumb

- Cook at 350 F. for 45 minutes, or until an internal temp
of 160 F.-- Note: to make the pickled red onions, simply slice them about 1/8-inch thick, and cover with red wine vinegar for a few hours, or overnight. They will turn into the beautifully colored garnish seen herein.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

I don’t post a lot of salad videos, since, other than the
dressing recipe, what am I going to teach you? Most people are pretty good
when it comes to tossing things in a bowl, but I made an exception for what I’m
calling a “Brutus.”

I discovered this salad at a great restaurant in Healdsburg,
called Willis’s Seafood, where it was definitely not called a “Brutus,” but
simply described as a, “Little Gem Salad, Dijon Vinaigrette,
Fuji Apples, Aged White Cheddar, Fresh Herbs, Fried Pecans.” It sounded
amazing, and tasted even better.

It was so good, I joked that it could
replace the Caesar as America’s favorite tossed salad, and a few beers later,
the idea to call it the “Brutus” was born. I’m explaining this not only to give
credit, where credit’s due, but also to make clear it has nothing to do with
politics. Yes, nothing to do with it. Nothing at all.

Normally, I would tell you to add whatever you want to this
salad, but not this time. Please make it
exactly as shown. Having said that, you’ll of course have to adjust the
dressing to your taste, but you already knew that. I really do hope you give
this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 portions:

For the dressing:

1/4 cup real French Dijon mustard

1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

freshly ground black pepper

cayenne to taste

- the dressing should be sharp and acidic, but please adjust
to your taste

Friday, June 16, 2017

This great steak is considered something of a butcher shop
“secret,” but not because they’re selfish, and can’t stand the thought of you
being happy. It’s just an odd looking cut, which requires a specific trimming
technique to remove one of the toughest pieces of connective tissue on the
entire animal.

Combine that with the fact that there’s only one per cow, and
you have something that’s a little tricky to sell, although that seems to be
changing a bit. This steak has become popular on restaurant menus, going by the
name, “hanger steak,” and that’s led to it being carried in some of your finer
butcher shops.

Even though it takes a little bit of time, the trimming is
pretty simple, and probably easier than I made it look. Carefully trim away any
of the tough-feeling membranes on the surface, and divide in half lengthwise,
along the center connective tissue. Once that’s cut away, you’re pretty much
done, other than deciding how to cook it.

Butcher’s steak is great in a pan, under the broiler, and of
course, on the grill. It takes to marinades wonderfully, and can sub in for any
cut of steak in any recipe. It’s not only tender, and affordable, but also
extremely beefy.

This is probably the most strongly flavored steak cut, and
some even describe it as having a subtle gaminess, although I think that’s a bit much. There’s only one way to know for sure, so I really do hope you
give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

This muhammara video was inspired by a request we received
for a Lebanese recipe. Not knowing any off the top of my head, I asked for
suggestions, and this amazing red pepper walnut spread was nominated by several
people. The only problem is, it’s actually a Syrian recipe.

Nevertheless, it’s apparently very popular in Lebanon, as
well as across the rest of the Mideast, and once you taste it, you’ll
understand why. Like I said in the intro, this may be the most delicious thing
you’re not currently eating.

All great dips and spreads should be addictive, but there’s
something very special about how this beckons you back for more, and more, even
after you’re being stared at by the other guests. Let them enjoy their
superior will power – we’ll continue to enjoy the muhammara.

You'll find pomegranate molasses at any
Middle Eastern grocery store, or online, but if you can’t, you can make it by reducing pomegranate juice (Google for more details). Or, maybe
substitute with some honey for the sweetness, and little extra lemon for the
tartness. Either way, I really hope you give this amazing muhammara a try soon.
Enjoy!

* Bell Pepper Buying Note: Sometimes bell peppers have large seed pods which makes them very heavy, and therefor very expensive. Depending on the season, a jar of roasted peppers will actually be cheaper than two fresh peppers. I usually weigh them at the store, do the math, and then make the fresh/jarred call.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Just in case you missed our recent Facebook Live, here it is, in all its unscripted glory. Most people seemed to enjoy it, which I certainly appreciated, but for me it was a reminder of why I don't appear on camera. I prefer a few days to gather my thoughts before answering questions, especially when discussing topics of such importance... like, "does peanut butter go with bacon?"Anyway, we'll be back with a new video this evening, for those of you who prefer "prerecorded Chef John." In the meantime, enjoy!

Please Note: Apparently there was a sound glitch at the beginning, and you can't hear anything until a few minutes in. The good news is, you didn't miss anything.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

That's right! I'll be doing a Facebook Live on Thursday, June 8! To enjoy what's being described as the second most anticipated public testimony that day, go to Allrecipes.com's Facebook page at 2PM, and as always, enjoy!

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

There are many unforgettable sights and sounds you experience
walking through Chinatown for the first time, but I think it was seeing all
those hanging chunks of florescent red meat that made the biggest impression.

Sure,
the Peking ducks were cool, but they actually sort of looked like roasted duck,
where as the char siu looked looked like nothing I’d ever seen before.

So, it was a little disappointing to eventually find out
that it was from copious amounts of red food coloring, which I’m pretty sure
was toxic back then, and not from some ancient Chinese secret cooking method. Anyway,
enough with the nostalgia; the important thing to remember is that in addition
to its impressive, high-gloss appearance, and savory taste, this Chinese
barbecue pork is quite easy to make at home, even if you don’t have a fancy ceramic
grill.

If you happen to be using your standard, backyard
kettle-shaped grill, push all your coals to one side, and place your meat on
the other.To add an extra layer of
protection, you can also put it in a roasting pan, and place that on the grill.
Or, forget the great outdoors, and simply roast it in the oven. The only catch
is, you’ll need to place it under the broiler at the end, to simulate the
caramelization we get on the barbecue.

As long as you roast it between 275 F. and 300 F., and do so
until you reach an internal temperature of between 185-190 F., the cooking
method really does not matter, and you should have something that rivals the
finest take-out in town. So, I really do hope you give this Chinese-style
barbecue pork a try soon. Enjoy!

Friday, June 2, 2017

I can’t believe I haven’t posted a recipe for classic
American potato salad, especially since it was such a childhood favorite of
mine. As I mentioned in the video, this is the first food I can remember eating,
and apparently was one of my favorite baby foods.

This is my take on my mother Pauline’s potato salad, but the
actual “recipe” isn’t the main point here. This is more about what I think
are the best practices for making potato salad. As long as you follow this basic procedure, it really doesn’t matter how
you accessorize your spuds.

Speaking of which, onions are always a very controversial
addition. If you use too many, or cut them with a dull knife, their sharp taste
can overpower the salad. This can be exacerbated even more if you make it way
ahead of time. So if you are going to
use onions, I suggest a sweet variety like Vidalia, or Maui; and be sure to use
a sharp knife.

The other major factors are making sure you use enough salt,
and waiting for your potatoes the cool to room temperature before dressing
them. If you’ve ever had a bad, greasy looking potato salad, I can almost
guarantee it was mixed while still hot.So, don’t be in a hurry.

Other than that, not a lot can go wrong.So, whether you’re making this for your next
picnic, or you want to save money on baby food, I really hope you give this a
try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 12 portions:

3 pounds russet potatoes, scrubbed and rinsed clean- Boil in 10 cups of water with 1/4 cup of kosher salt

2 tablespoons finely diced sweet onions, optional

2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley

1/2 cup finely diced celery

3 large hard boiled eggs

For the dressing:

1 1/4 cup mayonnaise, plus more as needed

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus probably much more as needed

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

cayenne to taste

- After mixing, chill for 2-3 hours, before tasting and
adjusting the salt. You’ll definitely need more, as well as usually another
spoonful of mayo.